Abstract

Specimens of Starksia were collected throughout the western Atlantic, and a 650-bp portion of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase-c subunit I (COl) was sequenced as part of a re-analysis of species diversity of western Central Atlantic shorefishes. A neighbor-joining tree constructed from the sequence data suggests the existence of several cryptic species. Voucher specimens from each genetically distinct lineage and color photographs of vouchers taken prior to dissection and preservation were examined for diagnostic morphological characters. The results suggest that S. atlantica, S. lepicoelia, and S. sluiteri are species complexes, and each comprises three or more species. Seven new species are described. DNA data usually support morphological features, but some incongruence between genetic and morphological data exists. Genetic lineages are only recognized as species if supported by morphology. Genetic lineages within western Atlantic Starksia generally correspond to geography, such that members of each species complex have a very restricted geographical distribution. Increasing geographical coverage of sampling locations will almost certainly increase the number of Starksia species and species complexes recognized in the western Atlantic. Combining molecular and morphological investigations is bringing clarity to the taxonomy of many genera of morphologically similar fishes and increasing the number of currently recognized species. Future phylogenetic studies should help resolve species relationships and shed light on patterns of speciation in western Atlantic Starksia.

Addeddate

2025-03-12 17:10:52

Bhl_virtual_titleid

210914

Bhl_virtual_volume

v.79 (2011)

Call number

10_3897_zookeys_79_1045

Call-number

10_3897_zookeys_79_1045

Foldoutcount

0

Genre

article

Identifier

sevennewspecies79bald

Identifier-ark

ark:/13960/s2zjbhp50z4

Identifier-bib

10_3897_zookeys_79_1045

Identifier-doi

10.3897/zookeys.79.1045

Ocr

tesseract 5.3.0-6-g76ae

Ocr_detected_lang

en

Ocr_detected_lang_conf

1.0000

Ocr_detected_script

Latin

Ocr_detected_script_conf

0.8719

Ocr_module_version

0.0.21

Ocr_parameters

-l eng

Page_number_confidence

88

Page_number_module_version

1.0.5

Page_range

21-72

Pages

52

Pdf_degraded

invalid-jp2-headers

Pdf_module_version

0.0.25

Possible copyright status

In copyright. Digitized with the permission of the rights holder.

Ppi

300

Source

ZooKeys 79

Year

2011

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